Agtegra Cooperative Members Elect Directors & Delegates at 2024 Annual Meeting

Agtegra Cooperative held its annual member meeting on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, where leaders announced the board of directors and delegate council election results and discussed the cooperative’s 2024 performance and vision for the future.

Agtegra Board President Rick Osterday chaired the official business meeting, which covered topics including the cooperative’s financial results, messages from management, election results and recognition of retiring director Jeff Lakner of Wessington, South Dakota.

Board of Directors Election

Five members were elected to a three-year term to the Agtegra Board of Directors.

Joel Erickson of Langford, South Dakota, was re-elected to the board of directors to represent District 1. Erickson grows corn, soybeans, small grains, alfalfa and cover crops in addition to raising cattle through a commercial cow/calf and feedlot operation with his wife, daughter and son.

Jay Esser of Redfield, South Dakota, was re-elected to the board of directors to represent District 2. Esser finishes cattle and grows corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa and hay on his fourth-generation farm alongside his daughter, cousin and his cousin’s son. 

Chris Eymer of Reliance, South Dakota, was re-elected to the board of directors to represent District 3. Eymer raises cattle, sheep and dairy goats with his wife and youngest son.

Andy Weisser of Roscoe, South Dakota, was re-elected to the board of directors to represent District 4. Weisser has a cow/calf and grain operation he runs with his dad, brother, wife and their four children.

Matt Micheel of Cavour, South Dakota, was elected to an at-large position on the board of directors. Micheel will fill the director position previously held by Lakner. Micheel operates a diversified agricultural enterprise alongside his family, producing corn, soybeans and livestock.

President Osterday also announced the appointments of Garrett Masat of Redfield, South Dakota, and Casey Nilsson of Mansfield, South Dakota, as the two members who will each serve a one-year term as nonvoting advisory directors for 2025. Both Masat and Nilsson have a generational family history with Agtegra’s governance, with both of their fathers having been involved with Agtegra’s board of directors previously. Masat raises heifers and operates a cattle feedlot, in addition to growing corn, soybeans and alfalfa alongside his wife and both of their families. Nilsson grows corn and soybeans and operates a cattle feedlot with his father.

During the meeting, Osterday thanked members Jordan Nitschke of Jud, North Dakota, and Scott Baumiller of Hazelton, North Dakota, for their service as nonvoting advisory directors for 2024.

Agtegra recognized retiring board member Jeff Lakner of Wessington, South Dakota, and thanked him for his dedication and contributions to the cooperative, his active role in making decisions and support of the cooperative’s future direction over the past 20 years.

At the board meeting following the annual meeting, the Agtegra Board of Directors held its annual reorganization meeting and re-elected the following directors as officers:

• President – Rick Osterday, Java, South Dakota
• First Vice President – Heather Beaner, Mellette, South Dakota
• Second Vice President – Matt Johnson, Webster, South Dakota
• Secretary – Steve Halverson, Pierre, South Dakota

Delegate Council Election

Agtegra’s Board of Directors is backed by a delegate council, which serves as a liaison between the directors and the members. The following members were elected to a three-year term on the delegate council:

District 1: Nathan Duerre of Bristol, South Dakota; Colin Dutenhoffer of Aberdeen, South Dakota; Nick Jacobson of Fullerton, North Dakota; Christofer Nickeson of Pierpont, South Dakota; and Darin Wiedebush of Mansfield, South Dakota.

District 2: Kurt Bindenagel of Frankfort, South Dakota; Andrew Boomsma of Wolsey, South Dakota; Christopher Heinricy of Colman, South Dakota; Brian Johnson of Frankfort, South Dakota; and Keith Lambert of Frankfort, South Dakota.

District 3: Kelvin Grey of St. Lawrence, South Dakota; Doug Halverson of Kennebec, South Dakota; Norval Millard of Presho, South Dakota; Andy Rankin of Draper, South Dakota; and Dennis Simons of St. Lawrence, South Dakota.

District 4: Troy Beck of Artas, South Dakota; Kelly Bosch of Strasburg, North Dakota; Jason Fauth of Leola, South Dakota; Charles Hettich of Roscoe, South Dakota; and Terry Ulrich of Ashley, North Dakota.